Food poisoning downs 123, mostly children, in far-flung Agusan del Sur village

Photo courtesy of PPIO Agusan del Sur
BUTUAN CITY – One-hundred twenty three persons, mostly children and members of the indigenous peoples (IPs) in the far-flung village of Tandang Sora, in Esperanza town, Agusan del Sur province, were downed by food poisoning.
They are currently admitted in the different hospitals in Agusan del Sur province – 99 in Esperanza Community Hospital, 14 in Bayugan City Hospital, and 10 others in D.O. Memorial Hospital.
The victims complained of stomach cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, and headaches on Monday, Feb. 19.
“We rescued and brought them to the different hospitals from 6 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 19 till 3 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 20,” said the official of the Esperanza Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
However, the MDRRMO officer said all the victims are all recovering and safe, particularly the 60 children who were treated in the different hospitals there.
“They (victims) are all safe now, and no fatalities on the said food poisoning,” it said.
As of this posting, police authorities are still investigating and determining the cause of the food poisoning.
Officials of the community and the provincial and regional health offices are also conducting an investigation to determine the cause of the food poisoning.
All the victims were internally displaced residents due to the recent severe flooding that devastated the province brought about by the shear line and low pressure area.